Weekday mornings in many households are seldom without drama or chaos. During most of the year, hundreds of thousands of parents go through the daily ritual of waking up the kids from their peaceful sleep and making a mad dash to get things ready for school. I can certainly relate to that, as my household used to be one of those chaotic ones too. There is less morning craziness at my house these days, but when one of those days do crop up I cannot help but wonder how some families seem to get through these stressful moments without a huff in sight while others just get plain, well, huffy.
If getting out the door in the morning on time is leaving you exhausted and overwhelmed, then planning for that morning rush in advance can help make your whole day go more smoothly. Here are some time-saving solutions for those hectic mornings:
Go Over Your Schedule on the Weekend
Look through your week’s schedule and break down each task into manageable portions.
• Plan ahead: If you have a mandatory staff meeting at 9 AM Tuesday penciled in on the calendar, then plan to have your workbag by the door, outfit selected and ready at the hanger, coffee mug ready for grabbing, and a ‘grab-and-go’ breakfast prepared the night before.
• Decide which day of the week to do the grocery shopping, clean the house, the laundry, etc. Stick by your plans, so you won’t get distracted the rest of the week.
• Decide which tasks you can handle every morning and which ones to delegate to other people. Arrange a carpool with another parent or hire a personal concierge service to oversee the delivery of that new couch while you are at work.
Get Up Earlier
Take advantage of the quiet and stillness of morning by waking up 15-30 minutes earlier. Without kids interrupting your morning routine, you can get a head start to enjoy a cup of coffee, make breakfast, to shower, iron, and even check email.
Ask Kids to Do Their Share
Nagging kids to get ready on time is one of the hardest parts of the morning routine. Rather than pushing your children to get up and get ready, spend some time setting up expectations and rewards ahead of time.
Sometimes parents try to do too much for their children. School-age children can pack their own lunches, get their backpacks ready, and tidy their rooms. Moreover, your children will enjoy the sense of accomplishment in being grown up enough to take care of their own things. Make expectations clear and have a chart ready to record their progress. Extra treats like having a friend over to play video games after school can be a great incentive for kids when they complete all of their responsibilities on time.
Prepare and Pre-Pack
The last minute rush to find a missing homework paper, a lost shoe, or the uncharged cell phone can throw your whole morning off. Avoid this by preparing the night before.
• Check the weather forecast and have clothes out ready for the morning.
• Pack lunches, briefcases, and backpacks so they are ready to go out the door.
• Have a simple make-up routine that you can do when the morning gets rushed.
• Have bathroom schedules, or take evening showers to make getting ready easier.
• Be sure to leave your phone and laptop in the charger overnight. Leave a charger in the car too.
• Have the coffee ready to start, and the breakfasts ready to go. For example, you can have all the ingredients for a smoothie in a blender in the refrigerator, or you can put the bowls, spoons and cereal on the counter. It doesn’t hurt to have one portable breakfast, like breakfast bars and juice boxes, always available for those mornings when your schedule gets behind.
Take a Deep Breath
The next time the morning chaos starts to kick in, take a deep breath: Inhale and let the thought of a peaceful place come to mind. Exhale and let all your stress and cares blow away. When you take the time to breathe in deeply, you become more aware of what’s happening around you. Little changes that can make your mornings even more smooth and productive will come to focus over time, and everything that needs to get done will get done eventually! Be kind to yourself and focus on what works for you and your family.
Image credit: Benjamin Earwicker
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